Description

• Role based in the Melbourne CBD - hybrid work arrangement
• Opportunity to join a diverse team, providing legal advice and recommendations to Judicial Officers across a wide range of areas of law
• VPS 4 - Ongoing, full-time role (new role)

About Us

Court Services Victoria provides corporate services and facilities to support the performance of the judicial, quasi-judicial and administrative functions of Victoria's courts and tribunal, Judicial College and Judicial Commission. 

Collectively, Victoria's Supreme, County, Magistrates', Children's, and Coroners courts, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), the Judicial College of Victoria, the Judicial Commission of Victoria, and Court Services Victoria (CSV) are referred to as the ‘Courts Group'. 

Our people enable the Courts Group to deliver on each jurisdiction's own strategic priorities while also pursuing strategic opportunities that are interconnected and deliver benefits more broadly.

SCV

The Supreme Court of Victoria is the highest court in Victoria and comprises the Court of Appeal and the Trial Division. The Court deals with major criminal and civil matters, plus appeals against decisions of lower courts.

The Supreme Court of Victoria recognises that its people are integral to its ability to meet and exceed community expectations and to achieve its goal of being an outstanding superior court. We continually strive to create a high-performance workplace that is characterized by creativity, innovation, flexibility, and quality delivery.

Funds in Court

Funds in Court (FIC) supports the Senior Master, who holds funds, investments, and assets, principally for people with a disability. FIC works to ensure the safe and effective investment of clients' funds at low cost, and to use funds in a manner that responds to clients' diverse needs and aspirations. FIC is a self-funded, not-for-profit division of the Court that also manages funds paid into Court pending the outcome of a proceeding, as dispute monies and security for costs, and pursuant to the Trustee Act 1958 (Vic).

About the Role

The Legal Officer is part of the FIC Legal Services team. Legal officers provide the Senior Master and Judicial Registrar with legal advice in relation to a wide range of legal issues affecting clients and their funds in Court. Such matters generally include property, domestic building law, deceased estates, consumer law, infringements, legal capacity, guardianship & administration, the National Disability Insurance Scheme, criminal law and family law.  

Key accountabilities include:

Conducting legal research and preparing memoranda to provide legal advice and recommendations to the Senior Master and Judicial Registrar regarding a wide variety of legal matters affecting clients and their families and carers.
Verifying that payments into and out of Court comply with orders of the Court, relevant legislation, and organisational policies.
Drafting Court orders, deeds, undertakings, statutory declarations and applications.
Interpreting relevant legislation and policies.
Maintaining strong working relationships with stakeholders and relevant agencies.
Consulting, liaising and negotiating with applicants, their representatives and other stakeholders on often sensitive legal matters.

Requirements

About You

• Admission to practice as a Barrister and Solicitor or Australian Lawyer of the Supreme Court of Victoria is required.
• Knowledge and experience in:
  o General practice and procedures of the Supreme Court of Victoria.
  o Knowledge of relevant legislation affecting persons under a disability including family law, trusts, deceased estates and/or victims of crime.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills – builds effective relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders and confidently argues complex concepts, negotiating with tact and diplomacy on difficult issues
• Excellent problem-solving skills – develops and evaluates solutions with consideration for likely impacts, developing contingency plans and ensuring stakeholders are actively engaged in the problem-solving process.
• Highly developed conceptual and analytical skills and ability to support decision making and recommendations.
• A minimum of two year post admission experience will be highly regarded.
   

How to apply

Click the ‘Apply Now' button, ensuring you include the following in your application:

• resume
• a short cover letter
   

Other information

CSV is the employer of staff at Courts Group. CSV has a firm commitment through its Koori Employment Plan to increase participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across our workforce.

We value the unique backgrounds, experiences, and contributions that each person brings to our community and encourage and celebrate diversity. Those from the LGBTQIA+ community, women, people of all ages, with disabilities, culturally and linguistically diverse people, and those who are neurodiverse, are encouraged to apply.

We aim to create a workforce that reflects the community in which we live.

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process or require an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to email the contact person listed in the advertisement.

As part of our commitment to a safe and respectful workplace, CSV conduct pre-employment checks, including reference checks, police checks and misconduct screening. These checks are handled confidentially, with care and are a standard part of our hiring process to ensure the right fit for both candidates and Court Services Victoria.